point of making more happy progress, unless we provoke the anger of God against ourselves by our own ingratitude. The Turk lately had his envoy with John II. king of Hungary, while he was prevented from holding the States of his kingdom, and sent him an Ottoman standard, bearing his own device, with an order to collect such troops as he was able out of Poland and Hungary, and march them under it towards Vienna next spring against Ferdinand. But what John answered, or means to do, we are yet ignorant. Yet we fear lest he should be more inclined to the Turk than is proper, of which he recently gave no obscure intimation, by sending the Turk on his demand a certain distinguished captain, whom he had detained, who has always been steady to the party of Ferdinand. God in the mean time have mercy on us, and on Vienna, which has hitherto been the grand bulwark of Christendom against the fury and power of the Ottomans.-Farewell, my Lord Calvin, by me perpetually to be esteemed in the Lord Christ, to whom I sincerely commend thee and thy ministry! Lord a Lasco very lovingly salutes thee, who has no leisure at present to write himself. Salute in my name St. Andrew, Raymond, John Budæus, and the other brethren in the Lord. 1 Your most devoted "John Uttenhove. 66 Cracow, Feb. 19, 1557." "I am at this time so overwhelmed with care and business, my Calvin, that I can write nothing. On the one hand enemies, on the other false brethren, rise up against us; so that there is no quiet. Yet, thank God, we have many pious characters, who are both a help and consolation. Our dear Uttenhove knows all. Therefore reckon what he has written, as written by myself. Farewell. I most duteously salute all the brethren in the Lord. John a Lasco, with my own hand*." A letter is also preserved, written to him from Zanchius, the Strasburg Calvinist, of which the former part is illustrative of the hopes conceived by the Reformers of his usefulness in his native land. "It has given me the greatest pleasure and satisfaction, most excellent sir, to understand from the correspondence of friends, after your return to your own country, that the Gospel of Christ has been not a little promoted in that extensive kingdom; inasmuch as you are acceptable, as you ought to be, to the most serene king, and all the nobles, who love you, not only as one of their own nation, and a person of authority, learning, and distinction, but also as a servant of Christ, and admire your fervour in the cause of true religion, listening with kindness and attention to your discourses. We cannot but augur most auspiciously from these eircumstances, that, as it has lately happened in England and Scotland, so also that all Poland may for ever renounce the whole power of Antichrist, and return to Christ, her true and lawful King, be reconciled to him, embrace him, bow down to his law and his sceptre, cordially serve him, and in short rule her whole profession and life according to his will, discovered in the Gospel. Go on, reverend elder, and excellent father, as you have begun! The Lord hath hitherto preserved you, that as Luther to his Germany, Zuinglius to his Switzerland, Calvin to his France, so you to your Poland may be an apostle. May the Lord Jesus then preserve you yet many years, till you have finished your apostleship, and brought over all the people to the obedience of Christ the King!" 120.-Lubienjecius, Hist. Reform. Polon. * Calvini Epist. Op. tom. viii. fol. pp. 79–91. + Zanchii Op. tom. viii. p. 358. Sigismund became so completely reconciled to the calumniated noble and pastor, that he frequently consulted him on urgent occasions. He constantly maintained as a theologian the opinions of Zuinglius and Calvin, in opposition to those of Luther, on the doctrine of the sacrament; but, as a minister of peace, was ever ready to give the right hand of fellowship to all sincere lovers of his Saviour, and kept up a correspondence with the leading reformers of the day, as well as with the Dukes of Prussia and Mecklenburgh, Margaret of Navarre, Edward of England, Sigismund of Poland, Christian of Denmark, and Gustavus of Sweden. Those who are conscientiously attached to Episcopacy as a form of discipline, will regret that such a character should have resigned the office of a chief servant in the household of faith, and not have felt it his duty to use that influence which his high family gave him in the state, and his acquaintance with Divine truth to the church, in the original character which he bore, and have awaited the result in the dealings of Provi dence. At the same time they will rejoice in that record of extended usefulness which he has left behind him, through his wanderings in consequence of that resignation and departure from the land of his nativity. As his life had been action, so his end was peace. Exhausted with his labours he yielded up his spirit on the thirteenth of January, 1560, leaving his young son Thomas and daughter Barbara, as a tender bequest to friends who were sincerely attached to his memory. His funeral was celebrated with great ceremony in the church of Pinsk, in the palatinate of Brzesc, and the vicinity of Laschowicze the seat of his ancestors; the four doctors, Sylvius, Sarnix, Stator, and Cruciger, taking part in the service. It only remains to be noticed, that the church in Austin Friars, which was taken from the foreign settlers by Queen Mary, was restored to them by Elizabeth her successor on the British throne, and has continued to modern times a privileged place of worship for the Dutch Calvinists. THE POOR-HOUSE PENITENT.-PART III. I HAVE always been accustomed to hail as a favourable sign, and, in my opinion, as indicative of a work of grace upon the heart, when there has appeared an earnest solicitude to be instructed in the things that accompany salvation; when a faithful representation of the great and awakening truths of revelation, so far from producing a dislike to, and a wish that such faithful messengers were gone, has been received with evident concern and thankfulness. Such was strikingly apparent in the experience of Mary. Her increasing desire to know the way to God more perfectly"-her teachableness of disposition-her humility of mind her thankfulness of hearther childlike and unaffected simplicity-were symptoms of a most encouraging and hopeful nature. There was no attempt to appear what she was not-no forced expressionsno wish to palliate her ignorance. Under such circumstances Mrs. H. had no self-righteous hopes to contend with, but her line of proceeding was plain before her, viz. to open and explain the nature and effects of true religion, and the necessity of being interested in "the sure mercies of David." A few days after their first interview the lady who accompanied Mrs. H. again called, when the third chapter of St. John was read. The doctrine of regeneration was explained to her, and the necessity of being born of the Spirit, without which she could not enter into the kingdom of heaven, was laid before her. She appeared deeply interested in what was told her, and evinced strong desires to obtain a new heart. The promises that God had made to give new heart and implant a right spirit within those who earnestly sought those inconceivable bless ings, afforded her encouragement to ask them at his hands. Her answers to various questions, although evidencing much ignorance, as as AUG. 1825. a might be expected on subjects such as this, were marked by that sincerity and earnestness which manifested her interest in them, while they indicated that strong desire to know and feel their efficacy on her heart, which could not but prove satisfactory to her kind instructor. From this time she was regularly visited by Mrs. H. who had the pleasure of perceiving her charge gradually becoming more acquainted with the things that make to her peace, while the work of grace on her heart was becoming more apparent. She became more encouraged to call upon God, and sometimes was enabled to hope that the Lord would not cast her away from him. Her heart was more and more affected with the love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ to sinners; and she was enabled, though with much fear and trembling, to look to him as her all-sufficient Saviour. Her outward man was daily decaying, her cough became very troublesome, and excessive weakness frequently prevented her speaking. The Scriptures were frequently read to her by the young woman before referred to, at the request of Mrs. H. She spent nearly the whole of her time in prayer, while her continued cry was, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" It was most affecting to witness the agonies of her mind on account of her vileness and sinfulness. On one occasion she was so overwhelmed with the burden of her guilt that it was most painful to behold. On Mrs. H. observing that herself and all present were sinners in the sight of God, she ex claimed, with feelings of a most agonising nature, "O! ma'am, but not such a sinner as I am!—O! I've been a very great sinner!-I have made use of such bad words, ma'am !-I've drank-I've drank, ma'am ! !" Language cannot describe the affecting scene: her eyes, streaming with tears, were raised to 2 P Heaven, while she wrung her hands in the bitterness of despair. What could be done but direct her to "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world"-to assure her of the willingness of Jesus to receive sinners-that, though her sins were as scarlet or crimson dye, yet "the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin?" O the richness, the fulness, the suitableness of the Gospel of Peace! how joyful its tidings how comforting its provisions to the sin-laden soul! Mary heard, nor heard in vain. Hope again began to dawn on her troubled mind: she tried to look up, nor did she try in vain. Her heart was melted with love at the mercy of God to one so polluted, and her mind became more calm and tranquillized. The case of this poor young woman had created great interest in the minds of all in the same ward. All were absorbed in tears, on witnessing the scene just alluded to. Many a serious thought was produced, while the greater part felt condemned in their own consciences that they had neglected the salvation of their souls. Often would Mrs. H., pointing to the sick bed of Mary, warn them of their approaching end, and exhort them to seek an interest in the great salvation while it was offered. She would affectionately remind them that they too were sinners before God, and unless they were led to humble themselves at the foot of the Cross, and seek for mercy and acceptance through the blood and righteousness of Jesus, renouncing every other dependance, they were yet enemies to God and without Christ, and consequently without any scriptural hope of being happy beyond the grave. On a subsequent visit, Mrs. H. found that Mary began to entertain hopes of recovery. It appeared that her medical attendant had been telling her that he thought she might be restored to health. This had evidently given rise to some false hope, but which Mrs. H. considered it her duty instantly to check. Not to animadvert on the cruelty of raising hopes in her breast, which there was not the most distant probability of being realized, it cannot but be remarked that such expectations are held out too often to the calling of the mind from subjects of infinite moment, without the least possible good likely to accrue. How far it is the duty of medical gentlemen to acquaint their patients with their opinion respecting their real case, I shall leave for them to determine. It is, however, no trifling matter to deceive them; for it might, I conceive, safely be presumed, that not a few go down to the grave buoyed up with false hopes, whereby all opportunities are neglected of be coming wise unto salvation. A few days had elapsed since the visit just mentioned, when Mrs. H. again was found at the bed-side of Mary, to which she was now confined. She was received with that visible pleasure and thankfulness which ever appeared on her countenance as she entered the room. Her instructions were eagerly coveted. The smile, however, that played on the pale cheek was soon succeeded by looks which were descriptive of what was passing within. Mary's mind was at this period exceedingly solemn. She had been reflecting on the near approach of her latter end. Death, with all its awful solemnities, presented itself to her view. She knew herself to be fast sinking into the grave; and she felt alarmed in the prospect of eternity, lest she should not be found at the right hand of God in the last day. She viewed her sins with all their aggravations. She feared obtaining mercy at the hand of her of fended Judge. She could not look to the Saviour of sinners as her Saviour, and she dreaded entering the dark valley. Mrs. H. was-enabled to direct her to Him" who hath taken away sin by the sacrifice of himself," who had deprived death of its sting, and who had promised to be with his people when they passed through the waters of Jordan. She embraced the opportunity of closely examining her views respecting herself, and the foundation on which she was building her feeble hopes for acceptance with God; and they were such as left not a doubt on her mind respecting its being the work and operation of the Spirit of God: These evidences will appear in the sequel. Till now, Mrs. H. had, from many circumstances connected with a sick ward in a parish workhouse, been prevented from concluding her visits with prayer: on the present occasion she felt it her indispensible duty to commend the object of her concern to him who is ever ready to hear and answer prayer. She invited those in the room to join with her in calling upon God; and although she expected some opposition, yet, contrary to her expectations, all readily united in bowing their knees before" the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." There appeared, indeed, a spirit of prayer and supplication poured out upon all present-nor will Mrs. H. easily forget" the sacred moments, rich in blessing," thus spent. Mary, who, till now, had never heard prayer offered up on her behalf, with streaming eyes, frequently broke forth into cries for mercy. And can we suppose that God, who is "rich in mercy unto all them that call upon him in truth," would cast out the prayer of this poor destitute? O no: whatever some cold-hearted speculating professors may imagine to the contrary, I cannot for a moment doubt that he who has caused the soul to see its need of mercy, and to cry mightily to him for salvation, through the satisfaction of his dear Son, will be regardless of its prayer. While I read the numerous promises made to the penitent sinner, the gracious invitations to call upon God, and the blessed assurances that no one shall seek his face in vain," I hesitate not to tell the awakened soul that God will hear and answer their cry. ALPHA. TO A CLERGYMAN ON PLAYING AT CARDS. MY DEAR SIR,-As a sincere friend to yourself, and, I hope, to the sacred cause you advocate, I take this method of making known to you my fears that you are (it may be unconsciously) wounding the minds of some of your parishioners by a practice long deemed unlawful by a very great proportion of the religious world. You will perhaps suspect that I allude to the habit of card-playing. Whether you do or not indulge in this amusement is more than I am prepared to affirm; but the conviction that you do seems to have taken possession of the minds of some at least of your people. It seems desirable therefore that you should disavow the practice if you can do so; and if not, that you should give the subject a greater measure of serious consideration than you have hitherto perhaps conceived it to deserve. One very obvious argument against you, if the alleged charge be true, is this, that you are unquestionably lessening your usefulness with a certain description of your hearers. But perhaps you are ready to say, that what you lose with one class of your people, by the indulgence in question, you gain with another. I can easily conceive that the great natural urbanity and kindness of your disposition may throw this stumbling block in your way, and that you may be even hoping to do good by |